With Euro 2024 on the horizon, the UEFA Nations League has been thrust the peripheries of those competing in Germany this summer.
However, the fourth iteration of the tournament will get underway relatively soon after the latest European champion is crowned in Berlin.
While just 24 nations will compete at the Euros this summer, the 54 UEFA member associations will once again be a part of the inclusive Nations League designed to detract ‘meaningless’ friendlies from the international calendar.
England’s dire 2022/23 campaign means they’ll be competing alongside Wales and the Republic of Ireland in League B this time around. Scotland are the only Home Nation representative in League A.
The draw for the 2024/25 iteration is imminent and here’s how you can watch it unfold.
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League draw will take place in Paris on Thursday 8 February at 18:00 CET (17:00 GMT)
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League draw will be streamed in full on UEFA’s online platform, UEFA.tv.
The 54 UEFA member nations have been divided into four Leagues based on their performance in the 2022/23 Nations League. 16 teams are involved in each of Leagues A, B, and C (four groups of four), while just six compete in League D (two groups of three).
For each League, teams have been divided into four pots (1, 2, 3 and 4) based on their 2022/23 Nations League rankings.
League A
Nation |
Pot |
---|---|
Spain |
1 |
Croatia |
1 |
Italy |
1 |
Netherlands |
1 |
Denmark |
2 |
Belgium |
2 |
Portugal |
2 |
Hungary |
2 |
Switzerland |
3 |
Germany |
3 |
Poland |
3 |
France |
3 |
Israel |
4 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina |
4 |
Serbia |
4 |
Scotland |
4 |
League B
Nation |
Pot |
---|---|
Austria |
1 |
Czechia |
1 |
England |
1 |
Wales |
1 |
Finland |
2 |
Ukraine |
2 |
Iceland |
2 |
Norway |
2 |
Slovenia |
3 |
Republic of Ireland |
3 |
Albania |
3 |
Montenegro |
3 |
Georgia |
4 |
Greece |
4 |
Turkey |
4 |
Kazakhstan |
4 |
League C
Nation |
Pot |
---|---|
Romania |
1 |
Sweden |
1 |
Armenia |
1 |
Luxembourg |
1 |
Azerbaijan |
2 |
Kosovo |
2 |
Bulgaria |
2 |
Faroe Islands |
2 |
North Macedonia |
3 |
Slovakia |
3 |
Northern Ireland |
3 |
Cyprus |
3 |
Belarus |
4 |
Lithuania/Gibraltar |
4 |
Estonia |
4 |
Latvia |
4 |
League D
Nation |
Pot |
---|---|
Lithuania/Gibraltar |
1 |
Moldova |
1 |
Malta |
2 |
Andorra |
2 |
San Marino |
2 |
Liechtenstein |
2 |
With the groups decided on Thursday, the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League will get underway on 5 September 2024 and conclude two months later on 19 November 2024.
The finals have been scheduled for June 2025, with the newly-introduced quarter-final stage being held in March 2025.
Round |
Date |
---|---|
Group stage Matchday 1 |
5-7 September 2024 |
Group stage Matchday 2 |
8-10 September 20224 |
Group stage Matchday 3 |
10-12 October 2024 |
Group stage Matchday 4 |
13-15 October 2024 |
Group stage Matchday 5 |
14-16 November 2024 |
Group stage Matchday 6 |
17-19 November 2024 |
League A quarter-finals and promotion-relegation play-offs – first legs |
20-22 March 2025 |
League A quarter-finals and promotion-relegation play-offs – second legs |
23-25 March 2025 |
Semi-finals |
4-5 June 2025 |
Third place play-off |
8 June 2025 |
Final |
8 June 2025 |
The 2022/23 UEFA Nations League was won by Spain, who beat Croatia on penalties after a goalless final in Rotterdam. La Roja had beaten Italy in the semi-finals after finishing top of Group A2, which also included Portugal, Switzerland and Czechia.
Giants like France and Germany failed to make the semi-finals, while Wales were among the teams relegated into League B.
How did England do?
It was a disappointing campaign for England last time out. Gareth Southgate’s side couldn’t build any momentum in Group A3, failing to win any of their six games as they finished last behind Italy, Hungary and Germany.
That means the Three Lions will play in League B for the first time since the competition’s inception, with countries like Ukraine, the Republic of Ireland and Norway all possible opponents in 2024/25.